For a measured soil sample:

Soil density terminology matters because the mass basis and included void volume differ between wet, dry, bulk and particle density.

Enter wet mass, dry mass and sample volume. Add particle specific gravity when you want porosity or void-ratio estimates, and enter laboratory maximum dry density when checking compaction percentage. Keep the field and laboratory test basis consistent.

Bulk density usually describes mass divided by the entire sample volume, including pore space. Dry bulk density removes water mass from the numerator. Wet or natural density includes the water present at the time of measurement.

If moisture content is already known, dry density can also be derived from wet density using the appropriate moisture relationship. Direct oven-dry mass and measured sample volume are often preferable when a standardized test is being followed.

Particle density describes the soil solids, not the bulk sample. Given dry bulk density and particle density, porosity can be estimated as the fraction of total volume that is void space. Void ratio expresses void volume relative to solid volume.

Percent compaction commonly compares field dry density with a laboratory maximum dry density:

The required target and applicable test method come from project specifications, not from the calculator.

For excavation, fill or landscaping, estimate volume from area and depth, then multiply by an appropriate bulk density. Loose, in-place and compacted densities can be very different. Haul quantities and truckloads should include swell, shrinkage and operational allowances.

Clay, silt, sand, gravel, topsoil and engineered fill can overlap in density. Moisture and compaction often matter as much as the soil name, so a generic table should be treated as preliminary planning data.

Field and laboratory methods include core/cylinder samples, sand-cone methods, water replacement, nuclear gauges and laboratory compaction procedures. The correct method depends on material, specification and regulatory context.

Do not compare wet density with a dry-density specification, use particle density as bulk density, or assume loose delivery volume equals compacted in-place volume.

Mineral soils often fall somewhere around 1100–1800 kg/m³ dry bulk density, but that is intentionally broad. Organic soils can be much lighter, compacted sands and gravels can be heavier, and moisture changes wet density. Project specifications should always beat a generic table.

A sample occupies 1000 cm³, weighs 1800 g wet and 1600 g oven-dry. Wet density is 1800 kg/m³, dry density is 1600 kg/m³, and gravimetric moisture content is 12.5%. If laboratory maximum dry density is 1750 kg/m³, percent compaction is about 91.4%.

If 20 m³ of compacted fill is required at 1800 kg/m³ dry bulk density, the in-place dry mass is 36,000 kg. The delivered loose volume may be larger because loose density is lower. A purchase estimate should account for compaction, moisture and waste rather than treating volume as fixed through every stage.